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(Model.)

0. E. BROWN. Machine for Working Rawhides. 4 No. 229,981. PatentedJul'y13, 1880.

@(Q L O WITNESSES 'INVENTOR:

' ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grinch.

OTIS E. DROWN, OF PAWTUOKET, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO HENRYL. FAIRBROTHER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MACHINE FOR WORKING RAWHIDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,981, dated July 13,1880.

Application filed May 5, 1880. (ModeL) To all whomjt may concern:

Be it known that I, OTIS E. DRoWN, of Pawtucket, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Working Rawhides, of which the following isa specification.

My improvements relate to machines for breaking, rubbing, and stretchingrawhide in the manufacture of leather for belting and lacing, which workhas heretofore been done by winding the hides on shafts or drums whiletension was applied by fixed bars between which the hides werestretched.

The object of my inventioaistofacilitate the operation and permitregulation of the tension and the invention consistsin a train of flutedor grooved rollers arranged in pairs, the rollers of each pairintermeshing and revolving at an increased rate of speed from theentering to the delivery rollers. The hides are entered between therollers and drawn forward by the successive rollers, and are therebybent, rubbed, and stretehed,as 2 5 required, to render them soft andpliable. The power is applied to the lower rollers, and the upperrollers fitted in adjustable boxes, so that the pressure on the hidesmay be adjusted.

The construction and operation will be explained more particularly withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a verticallongitudinal section of my improved machine, and Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A A are side frames of the machine, constructed of iron in a suitablemanner for obtaining the required strength. i

B B B are the lower rollers of the train, and (J G 0 the upper rollers,which rollers are constructed of metal, and fluted or grooved,

as shown. The lower rollers, B, are sustained by their shafts insuitable boxes fixed in the side frames, A, at such distance apart as toprevent any contact; or, if desired, there may be more space betweenthese rollers. The upper rollers, O, are sustained by their shaftsinboxes at, that are fitted in m ortises in side frames, A, so that saidboxes are capable of vertical movement. Each roller 0 intermeshes withthe roller B beneath. The extent to which the pairs intermesh is reguvlated by a screw, 7;, fitted in frames A above boxes a, and connectingwith said boxes, so 5 that by the operation of the screws the boxes maybe raised and lowered, or the screws may simply bear upon the boxes toto limit the extent to which they may be raised by the hides passingthrough. The boxes may also be fitted with springs beneath the screws,whereby the rollers will be rendered less rigid.

'I prefer to use four pairs of rollers, thelast or delivery pair, B 0,having a smooth surface, instead of being fluted. There may, however, bemore than four pairs, or in some cases less, and the smooth rollers maybe dispensed with. I do not limit myself in these particulars.

The power to drive the rollers is to be :ipplied to the shafts o thelower rollers, B. As shown, there are two shafts, c, driven by suitablepower and earryingpinions d, that mesh with large gear-wheels c on theroller-shafts. This gearing is proportioned so that the sec- 5 0nd pairof rollers is driven about one-eighth faster than the first, and thethird one-eighth faster than the second, and so 011,01 in the proportionof twenty-four, twenty-seven,thirty, and thirty-three revolutions perminute. The gearing may, however, be varied both in arrangement andproportion.

In operation the hide is entered between the first pair of rollers,which carry it forward to the second pair. This second pair, running 8faster than the first, commences to pull and rub the hide, at the sametime carrying it forward to the third pair, which rubs and pulls thehide still more. The second and third pair of rollers acting togetherpull the hide 0 through the first pair, and the tension and consequentstretching will be greater or less, according to the adjustment of therolls. By

, this operation the hides are bent and broken to give them the requiredflexibility, and 5 stretched and rubbed to the extent required. Everyportion of the hide is subjected to the action described, so that thereis no waste; and, if required, the hides may be runthrough the machinetwo or more times in succession. roo

The smooth surface rollers B 0 act to smooth and finish the hide afterthe rubbing and stretching operation.

Having th us descri bed my invention,I claim 5 as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent OTIS E. DROWN.

2. ln machines for working hides, the smooth rollers B 0, combined withthe train of fluted rollers B (J, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

1. In a machine for working hides, the se ries of pairs oflongitudinally-fluted inter- Witnesses: meshing rollers B 0, eachsuccessive pair be- WILLIAM G. ARNOLD, 1o ing driven at increased speed,as and for the WM. R. SAYLES.

purpose specified.

